Green-bearded Helmetcrest vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Oxypogon guerinii compared with Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-bearded Helmetcrest | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oxypogon guerinii | Archilochus colubris |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Trochilidae | Trochilidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 14.1 cm (5.6 in) | 11.0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 5.175000000000001 g (0.18 oz) | 3.1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Diet | Nectarivore of Colombian páramo; forages at frailejón (Espeletia) and cushion plants. Catches small insects near … | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Green-bearded Helmetcrest only
Ruby-throated Hummingbird only
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
Song & Call Comparison
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Sharp, high-pitched squeak with penetrating quality; sudden emphatic note given repeatedly near active feeding territory.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Soft, high-pitched chattering and twittering 'chee-dit'. Also produces a thin 'tik' call in flight. Wing beats create an audible high-pitched humming buzz during hovering.
Geographic Range & Migration
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia in high páramo at 3,200–4,800 m elevation. Locally common.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Conservation Status
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
Blue-tailed Hummingbird (alt): males with glittering blue-tipped gorget; metallic green above; blue tail; females green above with spots
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallic green upperparts and greyish-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent ruby-red gorget that appears black in poor light. Females lack the gorget.
Long, straight, thin black bill adapted for probing flowers
About These Birds
Green-bearded Helmetcrest
A small hummingbird (11-12 cm) endemic to the eastern Andes of Colombia at 3,500-4,500 m. Males have a green beard and erect crest. Nectarivore of páramo and treeline habitats, visiting Espeletia and Ericaceae. A Colombian endemic of high-altitude páramo.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. These tiny birds beat their wings about 53 times per second and can fly backwards, sideways, and even briefly upside down. They make an extraordinary non-stop 800 km crossing of the Gulf of Mexico during migration.